THIS is not how a luxury £9million Sunseeker yacht should ever leave Poole Harbour.

The sad sight provoked mixed emotions on the quayside as the stricken giant, gutted by fire earlier this month, was unceremoniously loaded on to a floating barge before being transported to the company’s Portland shipyard.

There it is likely to be broken up and disposed of.

The virtually completed boat was gutted overnight on Friday, May 6, shortly before its Mexican owner was due to take control. The cause of the fire is still being investigated but Dorset Fire and Rescue Service have ruled out arson.

Sales director Sean Robinson said: “This is our busiest part of the year and we got permission to move it.

“It will be left at Portland until the insurance company give us the go- ahead to dispose of it.”

A Dorset Fire and Rescue spokesman said: “Due to the intensity of the fire and subsequent damage a definite cause cannot be established at this time.”

Insurance assessors are understood to be conducting further forensic investigations.

The 34-metre yacht was destroyed by fire in front of hundreds of people on Poole Quay.

Among those watching were the Mexican owner’s crew, who were getting ready to take the Sunseeker at the end of the month.

At its peak 50 firefighters were at the scene and acrid fumes billowed over Hamworthy.

The yacht, which took six months to build, had three decks and could accommodate 10 crew and five guests.

Weighing in at 140 tonnes, it was the second biggest in the Sunseeker range.